heycods
Member
Throw in another vote for 308
What is your "nearly perfect" cartridge?
- Thread starter swampcrawler
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I have always been a fan of black powder and my choices reflect that position. For a handgun, I like the 45 long Colt with 260 grain lead bullets. Not a lot that you can not take with that load.
For a rifle cartridge, I started with the 45-70 but soon found the 50-70 to be a better short range hunting cartridge. Surprisingly more knock down than the 45-70 and good accuracy. However, if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be a tough decision between the 50 and the 405 WCF. Loaded with black powder, it is a good cartridge and loaded to factory specifications, it is a whole lot more!
If limited to smokeless cartridges, I would still grab the 45 long Colt and the 405.
For a rifle cartridge, I started with the 45-70 but soon found the 50-70 to be a better short range hunting cartridge. Surprisingly more knock down than the 45-70 and good accuracy. However, if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be a tough decision between the 50 and the 405 WCF. Loaded with black powder, it is a good cartridge and loaded to factory specifications, it is a whole lot more!
If limited to smokeless cartridges, I would still grab the 45 long Colt and the 405.
A nearly perfect cartridge does not exist....I got my first rifle a Rem slide action 22 RF rifle in 1949. In the U S there is hunting in wooded areas and wide open spaces. There are various size of unwonted critter that can be shot up close and out at a long range. The same is true for big game. I started shooting prairie dogs in 1949 with the 22 Rem rifle. Some time later I started looking for the perfect cartridge , rifle, and scope sight for shooting them. I have shot prairie dogs with the 17 HM2, 17 HMR , 17 Hornet, 17 Fireball, 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22 RF, 22 WMR, 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, 243 Win, and some big game cartridges. Some of them are good for shooting p dog pups when there are a lot of close shots others are fine for shooting old p dogs at long range. I like a handy Savage 99 and Rem pump 308 for hunting deer in the woods but would not use them for hunting in the wide open country where I have used accurate bolt action scope sighted rifles. Good luck , there must be at least 30 some cartridge that shoots bullets that can kill deer at various ranges. After some one has tried them all tell me what is Nearly Perfect.
For me it's the 6.8 SPC
It gives me a hunting bullet that can be (1k ft lbs) effective to 300 plus yards,
Which is a max distance for me to hunt anyway
The Texas piggies are just as dead.......
AR15 platform keeps me with a light weapon to carry all day if needed
If needed, I can swap uppers to 223 if needed if my bullet supply ever gets light in 6.8.
The 6.5 is interesting because it has more down range punch, but I don't want to have a barrel longer than 16 inches to get that for shots within 300 yards.
The 308 definitely has more punch, but for close up shots, I worry about over penetration.
I also don't enjoy the extra 2-6 lbs that come with the platform
It gives me a hunting bullet that can be (1k ft lbs) effective to 300 plus yards,
Which is a max distance for me to hunt anyway
The Texas piggies are just as dead.......
AR15 platform keeps me with a light weapon to carry all day if needed
If needed, I can swap uppers to 223 if needed if my bullet supply ever gets light in 6.8.
The 6.5 is interesting because it has more down range punch, but I don't want to have a barrel longer than 16 inches to get that for shots within 300 yards.
The 308 definitely has more punch, but for close up shots, I worry about over penetration.
I also don't enjoy the extra 2-6 lbs that come with the platform
Captcurt
Member
It is a no brainer for me.
If I had one gun to do everything with, it would be a 30-06. Nuff said.
If I had one gun to do everything with, it would be a 30-06. Nuff said.
Many cartridges would fit the bill nicely for central Michigan.
That stated, I always gravitate to the .270 Win. Michigan bean fields are large...500+ yards. The .270 will handle whitetail deer to 500+ yards with significant authority. Use a 140 or 150 grain projectile, and few animals could wonder off far, not even moose or elk.
The .270 Win just plain works. That doesn't mean that the .30-06 Sprg, the .25-06 Rem, or the .280 Rem are poor choices. They are awesome cartridges all. But the .270 does has tolerable recoil, and shoots flat. So, yes, give me an M70, in .270 Win, and I'm good.
Geno
That stated, I always gravitate to the .270 Win. Michigan bean fields are large...500+ yards. The .270 will handle whitetail deer to 500+ yards with significant authority. Use a 140 or 150 grain projectile, and few animals could wonder off far, not even moose or elk.
The .270 Win just plain works. That doesn't mean that the .30-06 Sprg, the .25-06 Rem, or the .280 Rem are poor choices. They are awesome cartridges all. But the .270 does has tolerable recoil, and shoots flat. So, yes, give me an M70, in .270 Win, and I'm good.
Geno
tommy.duncan
Member
30.06 Springfield
I have several rifle calibers to choose from, but the .06 is my "go to" caliber.
I have several rifle calibers to choose from, but the .06 is my "go to" caliber.
moxie
Member
Have you guys even glanced at the OP's post #1???
He's asking for a perfect cartridge for SHORT RANGE small deer and feral pigs, plus SWAMP varmints like raccoons, possums, and armadillos.
How do .270, .308, 30-06, 45-70, etc., fit in this equation??
He's asking for a perfect cartridge for SHORT RANGE small deer and feral pigs, plus SWAMP varmints like raccoons, possums, and armadillos.
How do .270, .308, 30-06, 45-70, etc., fit in this equation??
Badlander
Member
.45 Colt will do all you ask and then some. 250 grainers and unique for smaller stuff. to 300plus gr with A heathy dose of H110 for the biggest hog you are going to find.
wyohome
Member
Read the last paragraph of OP, moxie.
.243 100 grain for me. It will kill anything I would ever aim at in Texas out past distances I will ever shoot. It is readily available too in a variety of options. Good news since I do not reload.
It slightly edges the 30-06 because it ruins a little less meat.
It slightly edges the 6.5x55 because of availability. Not that I cant find 6.5, but not in a pinch, say, at a hardware store in Eden Tx or something.
That being said, I use all three. I use the 30-06 the most.
It slightly edges the 30-06 because it ruins a little less meat.
It slightly edges the 6.5x55 because of availability. Not that I cant find 6.5, but not in a pinch, say, at a hardware store in Eden Tx or something.
That being said, I use all three. I use the 30-06 the most.
plexreticle
Member
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If I had to pick one it would be 7mm-08.
henschman
Member
Something like the .276 Pedersen or .280 British, which the FAL was originally chambered for. That round/platform would have been outstanding.
tahoe2
Member
nearly perfect for me
The good ol 7x57 Mauser ; from 125's to 175's -- rabbit's to elk, (yes, I reload)
if Grizzlies or Moose I'd opt for a 9.3x62 Mauser (which I don't have, but is a future build)
The good ol 7x57 Mauser ; from 125's to 175's -- rabbit's to elk, (yes, I reload)
if Grizzlies or Moose I'd opt for a 9.3x62 Mauser (which I don't have, but is a future build)
Mr.510
Member
Another vote for .308. Like the 30-06 it can be loaded to do damned near anything very well. Unless you're in Africa you'll never have too little gun with a .308 or 30-06. You can only load smaller cartridges hotter to a certain extent, but you can reduce the power of a big, high powered round to the point the bullet barely makes it out the end of the barrel if you so desire. I choose .308 over 30-06 because the ammunition is smaller, lighter, and cheaper, as are the guns that fire it.
stubbicatt
Member
6.5x47 Lapua.
Sav .250
Member
I`ll agree with that. On the .300 Sav that is.
The words "best" or "perfect" are really subjective and best used in fiction rather than fact, but the most useful that I have found is the 243 Winchester. Since it can be loaded from 50 grain bullets up to 107 grain bullets it gives you use on both varmints as well as big game. I usually load them with 105 grain A-Max but that is only for target practice, currently my passion is the 95 grain SST in that caliber.
"Nearly Perfect", no, but just very useful in my neck of the woods, we don't have any Moose or Elk walking the streets, and I don't think I have seen any bears in the corn fields around here. Deer, coyotes, bobcats, possums, skunks, rabbits, fox, prairie dogs, an occasional beaver, muskrats, feral dogs and cats, and maybe a very rare Wolf now and then. So the 243 for me fits 90% of my needs, except for those pesky tree rats which are best dispatched by the age old 22 LR.
So I would rate the 243 as the most useful cartridge out there, but some would say it is the 223/5.56 (for me it is just too light a round).
Jim
"Nearly Perfect", no, but just very useful in my neck of the woods, we don't have any Moose or Elk walking the streets, and I don't think I have seen any bears in the corn fields around here. Deer, coyotes, bobcats, possums, skunks, rabbits, fox, prairie dogs, an occasional beaver, muskrats, feral dogs and cats, and maybe a very rare Wolf now and then. So the 243 for me fits 90% of my needs, except for those pesky tree rats which are best dispatched by the age old 22 LR.
So I would rate the 243 as the most useful cartridge out there, but some would say it is the 223/5.56 (for me it is just too light a round).
Jim
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Mine would be the same as Roy's favorite of his calibers, the .257 WBY Magnum. I've been loading 100gr BTs for it and next up will be the 120gr Partitions. Extremely flat shooting, and hits like the hammer of Thor when it gets there.
moxie
Member
wyohome,
Yeah I see your point. I was reading it mostly in the context of the first part.
Yeah I see your point. I was reading it mostly in the context of the first part.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
A caseless cartridge behind 230 grains of high-tech nanites.
One shot and not only do I take my target down, but it gets broken down and converted into other usable material by the nanites based on the DNA of the target.
Cows get converted into packaged steaks, roasts, hamburger, shoes, belts, holsters, hats, etc.
Pigs get converted into packaged ham, bacon, sausage, fatback, shoes, belts, holsters, hats, etc.
Deer get converted in to steaks, ground meat, roasts, chamois, etc.
Cats get converted into dogs.
Bad guys get converted into name-brand dog food and fertilizer.
And residual nanites left behind clean the gun and manufacture more ammunition to replace what was used.
One shot and not only do I take my target down, but it gets broken down and converted into other usable material by the nanites based on the DNA of the target.
Cows get converted into packaged steaks, roasts, hamburger, shoes, belts, holsters, hats, etc.
Pigs get converted into packaged ham, bacon, sausage, fatback, shoes, belts, holsters, hats, etc.
Deer get converted in to steaks, ground meat, roasts, chamois, etc.
Cats get converted into dogs.
Bad guys get converted into name-brand dog food and fertilizer.
And residual nanites left behind clean the gun and manufacture more ammunition to replace what was used.
Schwing
Member
Another vote for the .357 here. I will concede that I don't hunt anymore but, if the need were to arise, it is sufficient for most small to medium sized game. I also love the fact that I can carry my rifle and revolvers chambered for the same round.
It can be loaded up for that satisfying clang while splattering metal silhouettes at 100 yards and can be loaded way down so my 10 year old little girl can have a fun day at the range without flinching.
It is, IMO, one of if not the easiest handgun caliber cartridge to reload and some of the finest firearms ever created are chambered for it.
It can be loaded up for that satisfying clang while splattering metal silhouettes at 100 yards and can be loaded way down so my 10 year old little girl can have a fun day at the range without flinching.
It is, IMO, one of if not the easiest handgun caliber cartridge to reload and some of the finest firearms ever created are chambered for it.
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